Tag: HOS

New 2020 Hours Of Service (HOS) Now In Effect

Posted on September 29, 2020 by - Hours of Service

On May 14, 2020, the FMCSA announced changes to their Hours of Service (HOS) rules for truck drivers. The new rules go into effect today, September 29, 2020.

The existing HOS rules have been in place since they were adopted by the FMCSA in 2013. The new 2020 FMCSA HOS changes have been called an overhaul of those 2013 FMCSA HOS rules.

But underneath all the legal jargon and politics, what has actually been changed, and what does it mean for you?

Below, we’ll cover everything you’ll need to know about the 2020 FMCSA HOS changes.

2020 FMCSA HOS changes

What HOS changed

There are four main updates to the FMCSA HOS changes. 

  1. The 30-minute break will be required after 8 hours of driving time instead of after 8 hours on duty. On-duty/not-driving periods can also count as the 30-minute break.
  2. The 10-hour off-duty requirement can be split into eight and two hours or into seven and three hours. Neither period will count against the 14-hour driving limit.
  3. In adverse driving conditions, two extra hours will be granted. This extends both the 11-hour driving time and the 14-hour on-duty time by two hours.
  4. Hours of service for short-haul drivers will be extended from 12 max hours to 14 max hours. The distance limit will also be expanded from 100 to 150 air miles.

How the HOS changes will affect you

These new Hours of Service rules are meant to provide truckers with more flexibility. Not as much as many have hoped for, but more than was available previously. 

However, some are worried that the changes to the off-duty split may force truckers to work longer hours since the total “active” time can now be essentially extended to 17 hours.

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FMCSA Extends HOS Waiver For Essential Goods Through Years End

Posted on September 17, 2020 by - Coronavirus, HOS

At the end of last week, the FMCSA extended its COVID-19 HOS waiver until the end of the year for essential items. The waiver is intended to help transportation companies bring essential items to the areas of greatest need during the pandemic. 

The previous extension was set to expire on September 14. Here’s what is and is not covered under the new HOS waiver.

New HOS waiver 

The latest extension to the HOS waiver exempts drivers from certain HOS rules until December 31. You can find more information in the FMCSA announcement here.

Exempted cargo and products include:

  1. Livestock and livestock feed
  2. Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
  3. Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
  4. Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stored.

The FMCSA was careful to say that “routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration”, are not covered under the waiver.

Drivers are also cautioned to follow traffic laws and carriers are reminded that they cannot force drivers to continue working if they need a break.

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